ANIMAL INSTINCT

Green Raptors rally past Blue Sphinx to sweep

volleyball finals
G
reen Raptors fought fiercely to fashion out 25-14, 25-19, 25-16 win over the Blue Sphinx in the Men’s Volleyball Finals and clinched the
championship title at the jam-packed San Teodoro Municipal Gymnasium last August 23.

This volleyball championship match was one of the most anticipated battles between former teammates and experienced volleyball players. The Volleyball Trio
Steve Valdez, Jezryl Valenton and Rommel Delos Reyes of San Teodoro Volleyball Team are now battling in the opposite side of the court. Steve Valdez and Jezryl
Valenton commands the team of Green Raptors while Rommel Delos Reyes was the chief of the Blue Sphinx.
First set of the most anticipated match opened up with the Raptors dominating the service area leaded by Jezryl Valenton’s spree of aces that bury Sphinx 12-0. It is
evident that the efficient floor defense of Blue Sphinx is lacking that paved way to Raptor’s advantage in service area. Green Raptors were able to ink a first set win, 25-
14.
With the championship on the line, Steve Valdez and Jezryl Valenton shone the brightest in the match where they showcased their composure and tenacity to turn the
favor to the side of Raptors in the second set. Sphinx still can’t get out from the rut because of their unstable receptions and are still down by 8 points, 15-7. John
Christopher Palco added his contributions through his smart playing that became a nightmare for the Sphinx. Raptors invest in better floor defense and dependable
offense and sustain their momentum and aimed for their second win in the second set, 25-19.
Hope shined over the court of Sphinx after the early errors of Raptors but the Green Team didn’t want the Sphinx to regain their full confidence and stole the
momentum back at the middle part of the set. Valdez took action and crawled their team up with his spikes and better defense both in net and floor. Although Sphinx
were teamed up by strong players of John Clark Bico, Jojo Aldaba and Rommel Delos Reyes, they still can’t get the lead as the whole Green Raptors counteracts their
attacks and shook Blue Sphinx as they took the third set, 25-16.
The crowd can feel the intense matchup all throughout the match as all the players are vying for a place in the line-up of players to compete in District Meet.
Furthermore, Rommel Delos Reyes, John Clark Bico, Jojo Aldaba and Jezryl Valenton wanted to be part of the team to represent the Municipality of San Teodoro in
the Unit Meet as they will be not qualified to the next year’s Unit Meet due to some age disqualification. “Gusto kong sulitin ang aking huling taon ng paglalaro ng
Volleyball sa STNHS' Delos Reyes added in an interview after the championship match.

Catastrophic End
Hanz Johnzen Anonuevo
Sports Editor

Every single error has its own doubled impact that might lead to an undesirable loss in result.

If you have time to watch each game of Gilas in FIBA, you can’t deny that there are so many noticeable mistakes which really became the main reason to their tragic
campaign. The last debut of our very own team Gilas Pilipinas in the recent FIBA World Cup was unfortunately heart-breaking. Woes and frustration were evident in
the eyes of every Gilas fans more especially in the players and coaching staffs themselves. They struggled and failed to snag even a single win and pulled off their
loosing pace tallying 0-5 against the international teams.
What added to the downcast of Filipino basketball nation is the point difference between Gilas and the opposing teams every end of the game. Statistically, Gilas
Pilipinas unluckily dropped to the last spot with -147 points compare to the other rival camps. Based from the earlier matchups, it can be observed that our team have
struggled in executing inside attacks, tactlessly delivered their offense and fell short in defending the sharp-minded ace players in each bracket teams.
This only exhibited that our team was not yet ready to compete with the world’s best in basketball.
It is true that intelligence to make smart plays and create formidable defense are the most essential element that a player could ever possess in playing basketball, but
speed and height still really matters. This was proven in the last five matches of Gilas in FIBA. More of the players in the other rivals were having their height
advantage and this truly became a great barrier for the Filipino ballers to seal even a victory. Their big men are all capable of doing their jobs inside the painted area and
at the same time transforming into a shooting guard for they can also knock out bucket threes.
The Gilas Pilipinas roster was somewhat surprising for many of the sports analysts in our country. Choosing the smaller line-up comparing to the past year's roster
with specified PBA All Star players like Calvin Abueva, Terrence Romeo and Marc Pingris was a little bit startling. It is confessed up that PBA rising stars CJ Perez
and Robert Bolick have displayed remarkable and limelight-grabbing performances in numerous games that was surely became the main reason of their involvement in
this year’s final-12 roster. But the underlying question that has been in hot button was the sudden resignation of the former Head Coach Yeng Guiao after an upset
blowout of Gilas in FIBA.
Deep excruciation was received by our very team from the notable international camps in the FIBA. This truly notifies everyone that there’s more to be improved in
many aspects, respectively. In terms of individual talents and contributions, it was already showcased that Gilas players had their own effective way of initiating their
offense and building up defense. But it seemed like we’re not having our lucky charm to get on pace to the Olympics.
For the betterment of the team’s career in the next international competitions in basketball, a lot of coaching techniques and player’s roster improvements should be
taken. In the coaching staffs’ side, each member, especially the head coach should have better coaching strategies. It is necessary that they can do whatever possible
solutions could be that will change and return the momentum back whenever the team keeps on making pointless plays that will lead to their out-of-play executions.
Second, selecting the best 12-man roster for the team was very substantial. Choosing the finest players who will completed the roster takes a lot of time because it is not
just about the talent and strength itself, but either have a disciplined personality and that’s what makes a player more productive and powerful. Another option that
might add to the Gilas’ quality line up was rinsing of the remarkable players who dominated in the MPBL. Lastly, lending enough time for practice and trainings was
very beneficial. Providing the most appropriate sports facilities and imparting enough time for trainings really offer a huge help for the players as it gives the proper
place for their practices and provides good quality of training equipment.
No individual Filipino can ever agree if our team will be called and quoted as 'underdogs'. If we are expecting for more, then we need to do and strive for more. We
can still compete with the international teams like what the roster of Gilas did in the past FIBA tournaments.

Survival of the Rivals

Yellow Phoenix hold off Blue Sphinx...

But the running for MVP Balanquit got alarmed and he started to make indomitable plays that boost his team’s morale.
He showcased his dribbling skills that easily rid the two-man defense and continuously registered points to manhandle the controllable deficit, 73-50 at the end of
third quarter.
The marginal part of the game was witnessed in the last quarter when both camps enforced remarkable offense and defense but the game seemed to be under the
Yellow Phoenix’ regulation as Balanquit together with his former teammate Jenber Toledo unremittingly fired up the scoreboard with their two-man play and individual
offensive outbreaks. The late rally of Phoenix had made them to create a valuable gap but this doesn’t make any sense for it only contributed to garbage points. Their
overpowering offense made the deficit ballooned to 28 points, 92-64.
“It is actually hard for me to put some offensive staffs because their defense was really focused on me but it’s fortunate that I still manage to create plays for my
teammates”, said Balanquit after their unscathed career of the team.

3 of 8 Suhaenos qualify for Unit Meet, Ramos grabs first ever badminton title

Utilizing his swiftness, skills and limitless stamina possessed, Demson Ramos clinched his first Badminton title after outplaying Melchezidek Aclan
of Northern Mindoro Academy in the District meet. This occurred after he replaced Arjhay Erasmo in the line-up who exceeded this year’s age limit.

Ramos is known for being a good Sepak Takraw player and had represented Unit 1 for five years but he decided to change his sporting event and made his debut in
badminton. He firstly shocked the crowd in the intramurals knocking every opponent faced except Erasmo in their bracket.
He proved his supremacy after giving Aclan no rays of hope in beating him in a two-setter match, 21-18 and 21-19.
“This year, I’ve chosen the sporting event I wish to play for, not the one I’m used to and hopes to retain my Provincial Meet appearance run,” uttered Ramos after his
lopsided match.